French Hospital Expansion Project
French Hospital Medical Center has faithfully served San Luis Obispo County for 80 years, delivering top-tier health care through our compassionate, patient-centered approach. Our vision is to transform our ability to deliver exceptional, whole-person care like never before as our community continues to grow and evolve.
That’s why we’ve launched the French Hospital Expansion Project and the Foundation’s supporting capital campaign. This project demonstrates our commitment to go beyond small-town health care by investing in our community’s health and wellness—and the entire experience of patient care—at an unprecedented level.
The French Hospital Expansion Project will equip us to do even more to treat the whole patient, for the good of our community, for decades to come.
The French Hospital Expansion Project will address both the growth and aging of our local population, as well as ensure that patients receive the care they need through enhanced facilities and technology, close to home. Upon project completion, French Hospital will be poised to care for our patients at a new, elevated level, for generations to come.
Phase 1 to break ground in late summer 2027!
We are thrilled to announce the anticipated groundbreaking of the first phase of our hospital expansion project in late summer 2027! This transformative project has expanded in scope and will significantly increase patient capacity and critical services, making French Hospital the largest hospital in San Luis Obispo County.
Phases & Highlights:
- Phase 1 - Late Summer 2027: A new parking structure
- Phase 2 (following Phase 1 completion):
- A new, state-of-the-art Patient Care Tower, designed with patient comfort and advanced medical care in mind
- 108 single-patient rooms offering enhanced privacy, comfort, and healing (cumulative total following Phase 3 completion)
- A new, expanded Intensive Care Unit, doubling our capacity to provide critical care when it matters most
- Innovative technology, equipment, and patient care practices, including a new Imaging Center
- An enhanced health care campus with improved patient experience and accessibility
- Holistic spaces to support patient, visitor, and staff well-being
- Phase 3 (following Phase 2 completion): Extensive renovations to our existing hospital to enhance the patient experience.
Upon project completion, these advancements will truly elevate local healthcare to an unparalleled standard of excellence. Check back soon for additional project updates, new renderings, and more.
The role of philanthropy
As a nonprofit hospital, philanthropic donations empower us to excel beyond basic care. This robust $270 million project is a testament to the power of collective impact, and it simply would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our community through philanthropic support. Our generous donors have already committed more than $22 million in philanthropic gifts to the project to date and Dignity Health will invest $231 million into the project to advance health care for our community.
While this is a moment of immense celebration, we still need your help to realize the full vision of this vital project. In order to bring this expanded project to fruition and launch Phase 2 in 2028, the Foundation is actively working to raise an additional $17 million to ensure we can build the comprehensive, state-of-the-art facility our community deserves.
We invite you to partner with us to create a community hospital equipped with cutting-edge health care technology and innovative, patient-centered programs, delivered with humankindness right here at home.
Give Now
Learn more about ways to give, including tax-smart gifts and legacy gifts >
Naming opportunities are available. For details, please email us or call 805.542.6496.